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United Nations CEDAW/C/SUR/4-6
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
Distr.: General
30 September 2016
Original: English
16-16950 (E) 011116
*1616950*
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
against Women
Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention
Combined fourth to sixth periodic reports of States parties due
in 2014
Suriname*
[Date received: 21 July 2016]
Note: The present document is being issued in English, French and Spanish only.
* The present document is being issued without formal editing.
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Contents Page
List of abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Articles 1 and 2 Definition of discrimination and suitable measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Article 3 National and institutional policies for the advancement of women . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Article 4 Temporary special measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Article 5 Elimination of prejudices and gender stereotyping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Article 6 Trafficking of women and exploitation through prostitution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Article 7 Political and public life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Article 8 International participation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Article 9 Nationality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Article 10 Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Article 11 Labour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Article 12 Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Article 13 Social and economic life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Article 14 Rights of rural women . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Article 15 Equality before the law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Article 16 Marriage and family relation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
List of references . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
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List of abbreviations
ADEKUS Anton De Kom University of Suriname
AHKCO Academy for Arts and Culture (Academie voor Hoger Kunst-en
Cultuuronderwijs)
AOV General Old Age Pension
ART Standard Antiretroviral Therapy (AIDS)
BEIP Basic Education Improvement Project
BOS Bureau for Information and Study Choices
BPfA Beijing Plan for Action
CAREC Caribbean Epidemiology Centre
CBO Community Based Organization
CCT Conditional Cash Transfer
CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women
CRC Convention on the Rights of the Child
CSO Civil Society Organization
ECLAC Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GFP Gender Focal Point
GFR General Fertility Rate
GOS Government of Suriname
HDI Human Development Index
HPV Human papillomavirus
ICPD International Conference on Population and Development
ICT Information and Communication Technology
IOL Institute for the Training of Teachers (Instituut voor de Opleiding
van Leraren)
IUD Intra Urine Device
LAC Latin America and the Caribbean
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LGBT Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual
LISP Low Income Shelter Program
LMISP Low Middle Income Shelter Program
LOBO Training for Basic Level Teachers
MDG Millennium Development Goal
MICS Multiple Indicator Cluster Statistics
NBG National Bureau for Gender Policy
NGO Non-Governmental Organization
PAHO Pan American Health Organization
PIH Pregnancy Induced Hypertension
PMTCT Preventing Mother-to-child Transmission of HIV
PTC Polytechnic College
RGD Regional Health Centre (Regionale Gezondheidsdienst)
SAO Vocational Training Institute, Ministry of Labour
SPWE Foundation for Productive Works (Stichting Productieve
Werkeenheden)
SRD Surinamese Dollars
STI Sexually Transmitted Infections
TAS Telecommunication Authority Suriname
TFR Total Fertility Rate
TIP Trafficking in Persons
UN/CRC United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
UNDAF United Nations Development Assistance Framework
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
UNDRIP United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
UNEP United Nations Environment Programme
UNFPA United Nations Population Fund
UNGASS United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS
UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund
UPR Universal Periodic Review
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Preface
By ratifying the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women (CEDAW), the Government of Suriname (GOS) committed itself to
undertake a series of measures to end discrimination against women in all forms.
The GOS has endorsed this commitment with its implementation through national
development plans, where gender equality objectives are underlined whenever a
new government team is established. Government and various NGOs have
continuously mobilized national support for CEDAW implementation, promoting,
implementing and institutionalizing projects and programs aimed at gender equality.
The implementation, ensuring compliance with the international treaties and
the national gender development plans, lies with the Ministry of Home Affairs, more
specifically the National Bureau for Gender Policy (NBG). In doing so, the NBG
monitors the implementation of CEDAW and the Convention of Belém do Pará of
various government institutions and committees, gender focal points, civil society
and international development partners, using the Integrated Gender Action Plan as
the basis for operations. Gender Action Plans are being developed as multi -annual
plans, based on joint strategies of governmental and non -governmental stakeholders.
Suriname has ratified international conventions on the rights of women and
children. As an important follow-up, a series of national laws has been produced to
harmonize Surinamese law with international treaties. Monitoring the
implementation of these national legislative products is being conducted, among
others, through periodic country reports to the responsible United Nations
structures.
The GOS has so far submitted three periodic reports reflecting the status of
women in the 16 areas of the CEDAW. The periodic reporting serves as a reminder
of the responsibility the GOS has to ensure there is equality between women and
men and gives insight into the achievements, the challenges and the gaps.
This combined fourth, fifth and sixth periodic report is a reflection of the
implementation of the Convention over the past 12 years.
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Introduction
1. This CEDAW country status report, which covers the period 2002 -2014
(fourth, fifth and sixth report) is based on information provided by relevant
stakeholders through numerous workshops which were held around a variety of
themes related to the advancement of women and children, with representatives of
governmental institutes, gender focal points, other civil society representatives and
international development partners like UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, PAHO, and
UNEP-Small Grants Programme.
2. To date, Suriname has made significant improvements in the fields of
enrolment of women in education, reduction of maternal mortality, combating
HIV/AIDS, adoption/revision of legislation and defining and implementing of
various national plans, programs and projects.
3. Regarding women in education, women have made progress with gross
enrolment rates from primary education to university level education. Initiatives
have been taken to abolish the use of sexist language in textbooks and illustrations
in primary school books, while a strong gender focus has been put on pedagogic
processes. However, teaching practices perpetuate the prevailing pattern of gender
dominance, which encourages segregation in choice of vocational and technical
training and in choice of careers and professions.
4. In the reporting period, progress has been made with regard to legal products
which have already been adopted by the National Assembly, with regard to draft
legislation submitted to the National Assembly, as well as regarding legislation in
the process of drafting, as set out in the information on Articles 1 and 2 of this
report. This progress is the result of measures taken by government and civil
society.
5. Women as individuals or in organized settings have constantly made full and
strong efforts for drawing attention to the existing shortcomings and have lobbied
for new or adapted instruments to serve the needs and interests in defending and
promoting their rights.
6. In addition to the progress mentioned in legislation and education, progr ess
has been achieved in other fields such as:
• An increase in the proportion of women in the judiciary body, in the legal
profession in the public prosecution office, and at the local level of politics
and decision-making (See Article 7 and supporting tables 7.10 to 7.14).
• Significant improvements at the level of reproductive health.
• Public discussions on issues such as domestic violence (against women),
sexual harassment at the workplace or the position of inequality of women
living in common-law settings.
• Awareness on some values that are private, traditional or cultural and that are
used to justify or perpetuate gender inequality and male dominance (sexual
harassment, (domestic) violence (against women), the position of women in
decision-making).
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7. Although positive developments have been achieved, significant structural
problems remain and contribute to continuing and intensifying gender gaps in a
variety of areas, much to the disadvantage of women. Suriname should consolidate
and build upon the progress reached so far, because profound changes are needed.
8. In some ministries marked progress has been made regarding the position of
women at decision-making levels, but in other ministries women have not been
appointed to higher levels of administration or management, isolating them from
participation in policy making.
9. Positions filled by females increased at the level of parliament and in the
Council of Ministers, however, in practice, public and political party discussions
suggest that the appointment of many women to political posts are treated as a
privilege within political parties rather than a fundamental right of women.
10. Disparities between urban, rural and rural interior areas show a gap among
women of these regions on a number of issues that also urgently need to be bridged.
Challenges include making the differences more visible and developing
differentiating policies in order to close the existing gaps. There are major
shortcomings in official data that need to indicate improvements or setbacks in
women’s condition and status.
11. Various important statistics are not disaggregated making it difficult to obtain
gender breakdowns, as is the case with data on access to land, production, credit,
skills training, sports and recreation.
12. The next chapter of the report describes the way Suriname has implemented
the CEDAW during the period 2002-2014, analysing the most significant progress
and trends with available data and statistics.
13. The government of Suriname is pleased to present this report and uses the
opportunity to reaffirm its ongoing commitment to promote and create conditions
for gender equality and the full exercise of the rights of women in Suriname.
Articles 1 and 2
Definition of discrimination and suitable measures
14. As reported previously, the principle of equality of men and women is laid
down in Article 8 of the Constitution of the Republic of Suriname (the
“Constitution”).
15. The Integral Gender Plan of Action 2000-2005 contained specific actions
aimed at harmonizing national legislation with international conventions regarding
women and children, which have been ratified by the Surinamese government. This
plan of action was evaluated in 2005 and a new Gender Action Plan was developed
in 2006 for the period of 2006-2010.
16. Since 2002 the following steps have been taken by the government in its
efforts to eliminate discrimination against women.
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Ratification/signature of international instruments
• On May 25, 2007, the UN Convention against Transnational Crime and related
Optional Protocols, including the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish
Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children and the Protocol
Against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea, and Air was ratified.
• Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of
Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography was ratified on May 18,
2012.
• In May 2002 Suriname signed the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the
Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict.
• The Convention of Belém do Pará, which was ratified on February 19, 2002
has been published by the government in the Treaty Paper of Suriname.
Adoption of national laws
• Adoption of the Law to Combat Domestic Violence (2009). This law aims to
protect victims of domestic violence at an early stage through a fast procedure.
According to this law, victims of domestic violence can request a restraining
order. At the initiative of the Women’s Rights Centre a committee was formed,
consisting of legal and gender experts of NGOs, the Anton de Kom University
of Suriname (ADEKUS) and the Ministry of Justice and Police, which started
with the formulation in mid-2001 of the special law on domestic violence, and
a training on domestic violence organized for magistrates, lawyers,
prosecutors and police officers in 2003 with the assistance of external experts.
In 2013 the same officials and counsellors on violence were trained on proper
interpretation and implementation of the domestic violence law.
• Adoption of the law on stalking (2012). According to this law preventive
measures can be taken by the public prosecutor to protect a potential victim.
Information about this law has been provided through the domestic violence
networks that are installed by the foundation Stop Violence against Women in
5 districts. Furthermore, the text of this law has been disseminated to visitors
of an information fair in the District of Commewijne. Apart from this specific
legislation, the penal code has been simultaneously amended. A new provision
regarding stalking has been added, which punishes the stalker with a
maximum of 4 years of prison and a fine of maximum SRD 50.000.
• Adoption of the law on National Basic Health Insurance (2014)
• Adoption of the law 2014 on General Pension (2014)
• Adoption of the law on Minimum Hourly Wage (2014)
Revisions of laws
Penal Code revision
• With regard to trafficking in women and minors, the Penal Code has been
revised in 2006. As a direct result both sexes are protected against trafficking
while the penalties have been extended, especially when victims who are
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minors are involved. Forced prostitution is now punishable and is related to
trafficking in persons.
• With regard to sexual crimes, the Penal Code has been revised in 2009. Rape
within marriage and common-law union, rape of men, child pornography,
youth prostitution (from the age of sixteen to eighteen), among others, have
been penalized. The penalties have also been extended.
Moral Law Revision
17. The restrictive access of adolescents to sexual information and contraceptives
has been removed as part of the revision (see Article 6).
18. The age of consent for marriage, allowed in the civil code, was raised in 2003
from 13 to 15 years for girls and from 15 to 17 years for boys. Currently, draft
legislation proposes to increase the age of consent to 18 for both boys and girls in
accordance with CRC.
Revision of the Act on the Regulation of the Legal Status of Civil Servants
(‘Personeelswet’)
19. With regard to Article 45 paragraph 4 of this Act, in 2003 the Government Act
on Pregnancy/ Maternity Leave was revised and made more flexible. Instead of the
former compulsory 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after child birth, pregnant women
can, after consultation with a doctor, continue to work up to two weeks prior to
childbirth and resume service 10 weeks after childbirth.
Elections Act revision
20. Amendment of Article 15 paragraph 2, Articles 41 and 57, and Article 73
paragraph 1 of the Election Act, took place in March 2005. The amendment means
that married women or widows are no longer being registered automatically under
the name of their husband or late husband on the list of candidates or on the election
register. Women are now registered under their maiden name, and those who wish
have an option to make a special request to add their husband’s name. This
amendment was applied for the first time during the general elections of 2010 .
Draft Legislation
Legislation on paid maternity leave for the private sector
21. Paid maternity leave has been added to the draft civil code. Some companies
have also included paid maternity leave in the company’s collective agreement on
terms of employment. Women employed in the private sector by companies without
a collective labour agreement have no legal coverage for maternity leave services
provided by their employers.
Law on Sexual Harassment
22. Draft legislation on “Sexual harassment at the Workplace” has been
formulated as a combined effort of the Ministry of Home Affairs (NBG) and an
NGO (Ilse Henar Foundation for Women’s Rights). This was a result of the 3-year
programme (2008-2011) on the prevention and elimination of sexual harassment at
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the workplace as implemented by the Foundation. The draft has been discussed at
several national platforms involving all relevant stakeholders. This draft legislation
is currently being finalized.
Civil Code (Draft Revision)
23. The Ministry of Justice and Police in general has used the CEDAW and the
CRC as a basis for revising the Civil Code.
24. In this Draft:
• Decree C11 on the Removal of the Legal Incapacity of Married Women has
been accentuated, based on evaluations of its implementation; in practice some
financial institutions still enforce outdated rules on legal incapacitation,
although members of the public often do not commence court cases;
• Paternity has been incorporated;
• Cohabitation has been acknowledged, setting criteria for legally recognizing a
period of 10 years of living together; rights to remuneration; rights to
alimentation; rules for payment of rent and for legal agreements on cohabitation.
25. With regard to the following legal provisions no progress has been made since
2002:
• Equal Treatment of Men and Women
• Establishment of a Bureau dealing with complaints on gender discrimination
• Labour Law: start amendment of labour legislation from women’s point of view
• Holiday Act
• Identity Act: No progress in the process to amend Annex 1 of S.B. 1976
no. 10, granting married women free choice of using the surname of their
husband on their Identity Card;
• Travel and Secondment: Amendment of Art. 4 of the Decree on Travel and
Secondment (National Gazette 1944 no. 84, as amended by State Decree the
1993 State Resolution no. 8).
• Accident Regulation: the amendment of Art. 6, paragraph 3, of the Accident
Regulation (National Gazette 1947 no. 145, as last amended by State Decree
the 1983 State Resolution no. 8) with respect to the recognition of cohabitation
for payment of the breadwinner is on the list of priorities and a special
committee will be installed to address this matter.
Rights of Indigenous and Tribal People
26. In 2007 Suriname supported the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on
the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP); legislation related to legal recognition
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, especially the land rights, is not yet in place. In
the same year, the Inter-American Court of Justice decided among other things, that
Suriname should demarcate the land Saramacca people traditionally use and should
legally recognize collective land rights. In 2013 a Presidential Commissioner on Land
Rights was appointed by the President, while the Bureau Land Rights was established.
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Rights of persons with disabilities
27. Suriname has signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
in 2007. The Government is of the view that all persons with d isabilities are equal
members of society and need to exercise the same rights as others.
Article 3
National and institutional policies for the advancement of women
28. The following national mechanisms exist for the promotion of gender equality
and empowerment of women:
• The NBG, a department within the Ministry of Home Affairs, which is
responsible for formulation, coordination, evaluation and monitoring of the
gender policy;
• Gender Focal Points at the majority of ministries as part of the gender
mainstreaming within the government;
• Institute for Women, Gender and Development Studies, ADEKUS;
• Bureau Women and Child Policy, Ministry of Justice and Police.
National Gender Policy and the National Bureau for Gender Policy
29. Government’s commitment with regard to development and implementation of
gender equality policy is underlined in the National Development Plans of all
governments since Suriname ratified CEDAW.
30. The Integral Gender Action Plans 2000-2005; 2006-2010 and the Gender Work
Plan 2013 are based on the programmes of action of the MDG’s, ICPD, CEDAW,
the Belém do Pará Convention, BPFA, Government Statements 2005 -2010, 2010-
2016, National Government Programmes for corresponding periods and on the
evaluation of the implementation of former Plans of Action. Priorities as formulated
in the Integral Gender Action Plans involve institutional arrangements, poverty,
economy and the labour market, voice and decision-making, violence against
women, education, health, media and environment. It provides a framework for
implementing initiatives and actions under these priority areas by various key
institutions/players at governmental and civil society level, and at the local
community, district and national level.
31. The current Gender Work Plan 2013 contains five priority areas:
• Decision-making
• Education
• Health
• Labour, income and poverty
• Violence
32. These priority areas will also be part of the National Gender Policy Plan for
the period 2016-2020.
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Institutional arrangements
33. As a main basis to enable an effective implementation of the national gender
policy and the related multi-annual action plans, the NBG has concentrated on
gender mainstreaming, harmonization of national legislation and gender
sensitization. The role of NGOs has been considered of key importance for the NBG
in formulation, implementation and evaluation of its policy.
Mainstreaming
34. In the context of mainstreaming, the two important multidisciplinary
committees, the National Committee on Gender Legislation (government and
NGOs) and the National Steering Group on Domestic Violence (government) have
continued their activities.
35. In addition, certain government ministries have implemented some important
activities, concentrating on the following:
• The Ministry of Justice and Police: initiated a variety of legislative products,
measures and institutions aimed at combating violence against women; it
implemented a gender sensitizing programme, training a variety of high
judicial and government officials and key players at the civil society level. The
Ministry is running a Women and Child Policy Bureau;
• The Ministry of Education: has played a role in gender sensitizing teachers
and continued implementation of the pilot Basic Life Skills Programme aimed
at sensitizing students and pupils on gender equality as related to culture and
tradition;
• The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries has paid
attention to gender equality in the agricultural sector policy since 2005. During
the agricultural census of 2008, gender data was gathered from the agricultural
sector; and
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs: implemented affirmative action related to the
appointment of female ambassadors, consuls general, a female permanent
secretary and female heads of offices, resulting in a major proportion of
women at the highest level of the Foreign Service, in the Ministry as well as in
embassies, consulates and in delegations to represent the country in
international meetings.
National Committees
36. The National Committee on Gender Legislation was already mentioned in the
previous country report of Suriname. The Committee, which was operating since
2001 with intervals, was tasked with continuously reviewing the national legislation
in light of CEDAW and other important International Conventions and to present
concrete legislative amendments to the government.
37. The National Steering Group on Domestic Violence was established in 2008
after establishing a cooperation agreement aimed at improving integration and
monitoring of domestic violence policies and programmes, involving the Ministries
of Home Affairs, Justice and Police, Education, Regional Development, So cial
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Affairs and Housing and Health. The Steering Group on Domestic Violence consists
of representatives of these six ministries and is coordinated by the Ministry of
Justice and Police.
38. In 2010, a National Platform Domestic Violence, consisting of NGOs and
other institutions, has been established to advise the National Steering Group on
Domestic Violence and to provide support in formulating a national policy plan
aimed at structurally combating domestic violence.
The role of NGOs in implementing gender policy
39. Suriname has a history of close collaboration between the government and
NGOs for the advancement of women. NGOs provide the government with
important data and with feedback and support on all national gender programme
components involving women’s equality and women’s rights. They themselves
implement multi-annual programmes in many areas which coincide with the
national gender action plans, such as domestic violence, education, gender
sensitization, and gender awareness, awareness on women’s rights, economic
empowerment, credit management, legal aid, politics and decision -making.
Women’s organizations are regularly consulted by several ministries and
international organizations to participate in the formulation, implementation and
evaluation of policy at national level. In 2012, a Gender Dialogue has been
established, enabling governmental and non-governmental stakeholders to jointly
prepare and evaluate annual gender action plans. In the process of preparing the
2013 Gender Work plan, NGOs have been actively involved by the Ministry of
Home Affairs.
Promotion of human rights
40. In this reporting period, publicity has been given to the CEDAW, the
Concluding comments of the CEDAW, the Optional Protocol to the CEDAW and the
Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of
Violence against Women through:
• Distribution of the texts in Dutch and English to various stakeholders, such as
the National Assembly, ministers, directors, deputy directors of government
departments.
• Yearly brochures.
• Yearly newspaper articles.
• An introductory presentation on gender for high -level government officials in
2007 and 2008, organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration
with the UNFPA. Ministers, directors and deputy directors of government
departments were informed on gender and gender related issues and on
Suriname’s international commitments
• Training in 2009 and 2010 of judges, lawyers and prosecutors in child rights
and child protection measures by the Ministry of Justice and Police with
support from UNICEF.
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• Formulation of an Action Plan for Children 2009-2014, based on the
recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in May
2000 and January 2007. This action plan also includes activities related to the
promotion of children’s rights to both boys and girls.
• Completion of a human rights program of ± 9 months by eighteen officials
from the government (June 2011 March 2012). The goal of the program was to
contribute to the further incorporation of the international and regional human
rights treaties and declarations in the national legal framework and to improve
the protection and promotion of human rights. This program was implemented
by the Ministry of Justice and Police in collaboration with the UNDP.
• Training of media workers, NGOs and CSOs in human rights in the period
2009-2010. Information was provided on the various human rights
conventions, methods, resources and approach to better highlight human rights
issues and to promote these within society. This training was organized by the
Ministry of Justice and Police in collaboration with the UNDP.
41. The NGOs also promote human rights, and women and children’s rights
through education and training, workshops, conferences, publishing of articles in
newspapers and through radio and television programs.
42. With regard to the Optional Protocol, it can be noted that Suriname is in
favour of ratifying this protocol, but that certain conditions must be in place prior,
such as the adoption of appropriate legal measures.
Challenges
43. There are still some necessary steps to be taken in order to translate the
constitutional principles barring discrimination into domestic legislation, as set out
in Article 16 and to reach the goals as set in the National Gender Action Plan.
44. Major constraints are encountered with:
• Monitoring and follow-up on the implementation of policy commitments.
• The structure between NBG and the gender focal points as part of the
mainstreaming structure.
• The current position of gender focal points, who have inadequate influence in
overall gender policy development by their respective ministries.
• Insufficient gender sensitivity at the decision-making level of the ministries.
• Lack of gender-based database to take informed decisions and to sensitize
policy-makers.
Article 4
Temporary special measures
45. Since 2005, the Ministry of Home Affairs and NGOs have undertaken
activities with the aim to put the quota system on the legislative agenda and to
increase awareness on the importance of equal participation in public life and
decision-making positions. Activities in this regard are mentioned in Article 7.
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Article 5
Elimination of prejudices and gender stereotyping
46. As stated previously, the Government of Suriname recognizes the lack of
gender awareness as one of the major obstacles in the process of the elimination of
prejudice and of all other practices, based on the idea of superiority and inferiority
of sexes, irrespective of ethnic and social class differences.
47. The Government has introduced programmes through formal education as
important tools to bring about change in gender stereotyping and consistent
perceptions of women as being inferior to male counterparts, as property of men, as
solely domestically oriented and not qualified for policy and decision-making.
48. The Ministry of Education has promoted a number of policies and actions
aimed at eliminating factors which tend to perpetuate gender inequalities
(Table 10.6. Gender Indicators for Education):
• Textbooks and illustrations of several disciplines (history, nature education,
and geography) have been revised in order to give a more gender balanced
perspective, however on a small scale;
• As part of the Basic Education Improvement Project (BEIP, part I), from 2004-
2011 all principals and deputy heads of primary and secondary schools and
kindergarten teachers were trained in gender equality;
• The Ministry has instructed BEIP management to include gender equality in
the implementation of BEIP II, 2012-2016;
• The Basic Life Skills Programme, that is being implemented since 1997 for
pupils of the 5th and 6th grades of primary schools and the first two grades of
secondary schools, includes issues of gender and sexuality aimed at changing
social, cultural and traditional gender patterns;
• Inclusion of gender training courses in tertiary educational institutions,
including the teachers academy;
• Two departments of the ADEKUS include a gender training course in their
curriculum;
• As part of its programme implementation, the Bureau for Educational
Information and Study Facilities (B.O.S.) has held several dialogues related to
study choices for women and gender equality;
• Developed gender awareness material for radio and television and
disseminates these through NGO partners and Government.
49. Apart from the abovementioned efforts there were no structural long -term
national programmes, strategies and indicators developed to eliminate prejudice
against women. Although textbooks have been developed and teachers have been
trained, the Basic Life Skills Programme still has the status of a pilot project, and as
a result the actual integration of this curriculum in primary and junior secondary
education has not been implemented yet.
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50. Despite the advances achieved with regard to the removal of gender
stereotyping in education, discriminatory cultural practices still persist in textbooks
and in the educational processes.
51. Even though the NBG has involved media in several activities, the
Government itself has no special media programme dealing with gender issues and
has not installed any official body to monitor the media on gender stereotyping, nor
has it trained or sensitized media workers.
Article 6
Trafficking of women and exploitation through prostitution
52. Systematic efforts both at governmental and non-governmental level resulted
in legislation combating human trafficking.
53. The revision of the Surinamese Penal Code (2006), which now explicitly
penalizes all forms of internal and cross-border human trafficking, including child
prostitution and trafficking is a clear result of these efforts. As a result of the
revision, both sexes are protected against trafficking, while the penalties have been
extended, including penalties for child prostitution and trafficking. The ratification
of the “Palermo Protocol” (2007) to prevent and combat Trafficking in Persons,
especially in women and children, is another clear result of the Government ’s
commitment to combat human trafficking.
54. The National Assembly approved the revision of the Moral Law (as part of the
Penal Code) in July 2009 (S.B. 2009 No. 122). This revision is in line with UN
conventions that have been ratified by Suriname, i.e.: the Convention on the Rights
of the Child, including the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, prostitution
and child pornography; the United Nations Convention against Transnational
Organized Crime including its Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking
in Persons, Especially Women and Children.
55. The Ministry of Justice and Police has implemented a series of activities in the
sphere of awareness, training stakeholders such as civil servants, media workers,
religious leaders, representatives of NGOs, private companies and trade unions. An
anti-trafficking webpage and Anti Trafficking Hotline of the Police Corps have been
launched.
56. In 2006, a special Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Unit was established as part of
the Police Corps, tasked with investigation of cases of human trafficking and with
education and awareness on trafficking. This unit regularly inspects brothels in the
coastal area and in the interior, to identify victims of prostitution and trafficking.
The Public Prosecutor’s Department also established a special Trafficking in
Persons Desk.
57. The TIP Unit has recorded 16 cases of human trafficking between 2004 and
2013. The majority of victims were females and children (90 per cent), of
Surinamese or Guyanese origin, while the majority of cases were related to sexual
exploitation (13 out of 16 cases).
58. Until now, most victims have been assisted by initiatives from family, friends
or NGOs, but there is a clear need for a structured governmental and/or non -
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governmental programme or body, which is equipped to provide adequate
professional support. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing is in the process of
establishing a shelter “safe house” for victims of trafficking.
59. There is no reliable data available on prosecutions related to sexual abuse of
children, though this type of abuse is penalized by law which has been revised
whereby articles were expanded in order to increase the sanctions.
60. There are signs of an ICT related trend in child sexual abuse and exploitation,
the last few years, including cell phone pornography. The distribution of
pornography through a data carrier, for example a cell phone, is penalized by law.
Until now, children or youth proved to be both victims and abusers. The non -
governmental organization Rachab (former Maxi Linder) provides social assistance
to child victims of prostitution and/or trafficking.
61. In order to provide for better streamlining and monitoring of all governmental
anti-trafficking initiatives and activities, and to develop national strategies and a
coherent and sustainable national programme, the Minister of Justice and Police
installed the inter-ministerial Working Group “Counter-Trafficking in Persons”,
resulting in the formulation of the National Strategy and National Plan of Action
“Route to Combat Trafficking in Persons 2014. The establishment of a data
management system, prevention, counselling, rehabilitation and social integration of
victims, formulation of an information and awareness campaign, formulation of
rules and procedures for misleading application calls are some of the import ant
aspects of this national programme, which also includes strategies to reach out to
women and children from rural areas and the interior.
62. Together with this national document, the Government also approved the
“Schakelketting 2.0 New Government Infrastructure to Combat Trafficking in
Persons” (a chainlink). The new infrastructure is needed to successfully implement
the strategy, because the current government infrastructure does not function
properly. The Working Group “Counter-Trafficking in Persons” is preparing for the
activation of the new infrastructure.
63. Generally, prostitution by adults itself is not included in the Penal Code as a
crime, with the exception of street prostitution (Police Criminal Law, Article 65). In
practice, however, only street sex workers who misbehave are being prosecuted.
64. On the other hand, youth prostitution is included in the Penal Code as a crime
(Article 303a). A person who has sexual contact with a sex worker who has reached
the age of 16 but is under the age of 18, is punishable.
65. Sexual abuse of children (under the age of 12)/youth (from age 12 and not
having reached the age of 16, is also punishable by the Penal Code (Article 297 and
298).
66. Exploitation of sex workers in cases of human trafficking is considered a
crime, according to the Penal Code (Article 307).
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Article 7
Political and public life
The right of women to vote and their right to political participation
67. Pursuant to Article 52 paragraph 2 and Article 53 of the Constitution, women
as well as men can participate in the general, free and secret elections for the bodies
of popular representation.
68. Requirements for electing legislative bodies (the National Assembly, the
Resort Council, the District Council) are not discriminatory (Constitution, Art. 57),
nor are women considered to be among the groups excluded from participation.
There are no provisions in the Decree Political Organizations (Bulletin of Acts and
Decrees 1987 no.61) which directly impede or restrict entry of wo men into politics.
This decree states, among others, that political parties must be open to everyone,
irrespective of race and religious beliefs.
69. Some discriminatory articles of the Election Act have been revised in March
2005. Since the revision of articles 15, 41, 57 and 73 of the Election Act, female
candidates who are married or widowed have the option, upon written request, to
register under their maiden name adding the name of their husband or late husband.
During the general elections of 2010 a number of 1360 married women used this
option for the first time and subsequently registered under their maiden name
adding the name of their husband, while another 297 registered adding the name of
their late husband.
70. Overall, the total number of eligible voters decreased between 2005 and 2010
from 333,985 to 322,625. The number of male voters decreased from 167,514 to
160,441 and the number of female voters from 166,471 to 162,184. There was no
significant proportional change between the number of male and female voters in
both electoral years (50 per cent - 50 per cent).
Women’s right to be eligible for general elections
71. Neither the Constitution of Suriname nor other national legislation
discriminates between men and women with respect to participation in political and
public life.
72. The fact that the number of women elected for parliament has decreased by 15
per cent since the general elections of 2005, indicates that the political culture in the
selection and nomination of female candidates for representation in parliament is
still an impediment to eliminate gender inequality regarding women’s eligibility for
general elections. No government measures in the sphere of enacting legislation on
gender quota have been taken to contribute to an increase of the representation of
women at the political level and greater numbers of women in power.
73. However, the fact that women’s positions in parliament and government are
declining has encouraged initiatives to promote affirmative action and quota
representation of women in parliament and government. In 2010, the Ministry of
Home Affairs organized an open discussion on the introduction of a quota policy in
Suriname entitled “Quota Policy and Promoting the Participation of Women in
Politics”. In the same year, the Ilse Henar Foundation for Women’s Rights organized
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a follow up workshop in collaboration with the Women Parliament Forum, the
Democracy Unit of the Anton de Kom University of Suriname and the Ministry of
Home Affairs. Parties decided to promote the drafting of legislation regarding
gender quota. As part of its annual ‘March of Women’ campaign, Projekta has
organized several discussions on this topic and in addition published some booklets.
74. The realization of gender equality in politics is a high priority for the current
speaker and deputy speaker of the National Assembly. In February 2012, a round
table discussion on “Gender and Politics” was organized in collaboration with the
UNDP-Suriname office. In the second round table discussion, held in June 2012, the
focus was on legalizing gender quota for women in politics and resulted in the
formulation of an action plan for the coming years.
75. With regard to the general elections of 2015, the National Assembly also
carried out activities to increase the number of women in parliament, such as the
project “More Women in Decision-making 2015” with the purpose to mobilize
commitment of political parties to nominate more women as parliament candidates,
for management positions or political administrative positions; strengthen self-
confidence/self-awareness of politically active women within political
parties/potential candidates (how to present yourself); increase awareness on the
importance of having more women (equal basis) in politics.
Women holding senior positions in political parties
76. A comparison of the number of women elected to parliament and their ranking
on the list of candidates of their respective parties during the general elections of
2005 and 2010 shows that part of the problem of the low number of women elected
in 2010 is linked with women’s ranking on their party’s list of candidates. Only in
one district (District of Brokopondo) one woman was positioned in 2nd place and
subsequently elected in her district. Only two women were re-elected in 2010 for
parliament, both in the District of Paramaribo, i.e. the speaker and deputy speaker,
and this was the first time in the history of Suriname that both seats were held by
women, and from opposing parties as well, namely coalition and opposition.
77. The fact that the leadership in all parties is dominated by men and — as a
consequence of political party combinations — several male party leaders have to
be accommodated on the same list of candidates, vastly diminishes equal
opportunities for women to be prominently nominated on the list of candidates.
Only one political party (DOE), has introduced an internal quota system, laying
down in its by-laws that the Board will be composed of 50 per cent women and that
it will strive for equal numbers of men and women in all positions.
Women’s position in parliament
78. Since the last CEDAW report, women’s position in parliament has declined.
Until 2005 there has been a steady increase of the proportion of female
representatives in parliament, from 18 per cent to 22 per cent. A drastic change
came after the elections of 2010, when women’s proportion dropped from 22 per
cent to 10 per cent.
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Position of women in the Council of Ministers
79. Women are structurally underrepresented in the Council of Ministers. From
2000-2005 the government had 18 ministers, two of which were female (11 per
cent), i.e. the ministers of Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs. During the 2005 -2010
electoral period, the total number of ministers increased to 19, of which 4 were
women (21 per cent), i.e. the ministers of Foreign Affairs, Labour, Technology and
Environment, and Transport, Communication and Tourism.
80. At the start of the administrative period 2010-2015, two positions were held by
women in the Council of Ministers. Due to reshuffling of ministers, in 2012 there
were 4 female ministers in the Council, but from 2013 on there was only one female
minister left, a decrease from 24 per cent to 6 per cent.
81. There is a trend worldwide that women ministers tend to hold ‘soft’ and less
powerful portfolios, but although underrepresented, this is not the case in Suriname,
since female ministers have penetrated the policy areas of foreign affairs and
finance, while one woman held the post of deputy minister of Public Works.
Position of women in local government
82. Contrary to the position of women at parliamentary level, the participation of
women at local political level has improved. For instance, the proportion of female
members of the District Councils increased in the same period from 18 per cent to
25 per cent and 32 per cent, while the Resort Councils showed an increase of 25 per
cent, 31 per cent and 35 per cent.
83. Between 2000 and 2010, the proportion of female District Commissioners
increased from 0 per cent in 2000 to 27 per cent in 2010.
Women in High Organs of State
84. Contrary to the position of women members of parliament and women
ministers, there is a notable increase in the position of women in the High Organs of
State.
85. During ten years (2000-2010) the State Advisory Council counted only one
woman (6 per cent). In 2010, the number increased from one to three (20 per cent)
and since July 2012 to four (25 per cent). From 2000 -2005 there were no women
members of the Independent Electoral Council. The proportion of women increased
from 0 per cent to 40 per cent during 2005-2010 and in 2010 to 57 per cent. In the
National Electoral Office, the proportion of women increased from 44 per cent to 46
per cent between 2000 and 2005. It decreased to 42 per cent in 2010. Although
women’s proportion had increased dramatically since 2000, there was no change in
the chairing positions of all these institutions, which has never been held by a
woman, with the exception of the National Audit Office, which is being chaired by a
woman since 2011 and the Independent Electoral Council (since 2005).
86. The Labour Advisory Council showed a more or less steady proportion of 50
per cent women.
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Women’s participation in the Court of Justice
87. From 2000 to 2007 the Court of Justice was a male dominated body with only
10 per cent women. Since 2008, the number of female judges started to increase and
by 2009 there was 50 per cent representation of women judges in this Court of
Justice. From 2010 the female judges dominated, the proportion of female judges to
male judges being 53 per cent in 2010 and increased to 63 per cent in 2013. Women
also clearly dominate in the public prosecutor ’s office: 6 male (29 per cent) to
15 female (71 per cent) prosecutors.
Women’s participation in decision-making in the business sector
88. Although national data on the position of women in higher education show that
women pursue higher education more than men, data gathered through the Suriname
Enterprise Survey, Compete Caribbean 2011, show gender inequality in privately
owned domestic firms, particularly in the manufacturing and services sector. The
survey suggests that firms with women in management positions or with women in
ownership positions in the services industry are most likely to be foreign -owned.
89. The Suriname Enterprise data furthermore suggest that Suriname’s female
participation rate in top management is lowest among Latin American and
Caribbean countries. Suriname has the lowest percentage of firms with female
participation in ownership, 18.3 per cent (40.4 per cent for LAC), as well as one of
the lowest percentages of women in top management positions, 15 per cent.
Article 8
International participation
90. Women have fully participated in Suriname’s Foreign Service in many aspects.
For the first time in history women have been appointed to the post of Minister of
Foreign Affairs, in 2000 and in 2005, while the first female Permanent Secretaries
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs served from 2008 to 2010 and from 2013.
91. Women have penetrated in the higher-level positions such as Ambassador and
Consul General, which, until 2000 were predominated by men. The proportion of
female-headed embassies increased from 8 per cent in 2000 to 44 per cent in 2012,
while the proportion of female Consuls-General in the same period has remained
stable at 50 per cent.
92. Secondly, women also hold strong managerial positions in the Ministry. In
2002, 21 out of 36 Permanent Secretary and Deputy Permanent Secretary positions
were held by women. Women were dominant in Consular Affairs, Geopolitical
Affairs, Development Cooperation and International Trade, and Regional
Integration. At the level of Heads of Departments of Juridical Affairs and Treaties,
Protocol and Documentation and Information, the positions were filled by women
who accounted for 100 per cent.
93. Through observation a cautious conclusion can be drawn that Suriname is well
represented by female civil servants as well as women from NGOs in meetings of
international and regional women’s organizations.
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94. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also takes into account the gender dimension in
delegating persons to foreign missions. In practice, preferential treatment for women
is applied despite the fact that a preferential policy is not explicitly laid down.
Article 9
Nationality
Equal rights for women to acquire, change or retain their nationality
95. In July 2014, the Law of 1975 on Regulation of the Surinamese Nationality
and Residency was amended. The amendment includes the removal of gender
discriminatory provisions regarding the acquisition and loss of nationality in the
context of marriage and divorce.
Equal rights between women and men with respect to the nationality of
their children
96. The 2014 amendment of the Law on Regulation of the Surinamese Nationality
and Residency also changed the situation with regard to the nationality of children.
According to the 1975 law (as last amended in 2002), the child of a Surinamese
woman born out of wedlock and not recognized by the father only acquired
Surinamese nationality if that child was born in Suriname (Article 3(c)), and would
otherwise be stateless (Article 4(b)), whilst the child of a Surinamese man acquired
Surinamese nationality regardless of its place of birth (Article 3(a)). These
provisions were in violation of CEDAW, Article 9 (2).
97. According to the July 2014 law, a child is now granted Surinamese nationality
automatically if its father or mother is Surinamese at the time of its birth (Article
3(a) as amended) and the other conditions for a woman to confer her nationality to
her child have been removed. The explanatory note to the law states that this
amendment “demonstrates the full equality of man and woman (father and mother)
before the law in the establishment of the nationality of the child at birth”.
98. Article 3(c) of the 2014 law retains the provision of the 1975 law, granting
Surinamese nationality to any child born on the territory who would otherwise be
stateless, and Article 4(b) retains the provision, granting Surinamese nationality to
foundlings or abandoned children in the country, whose parents are unknown.
Article 10
Education
General educational situation of women in Suriname
Enrolment of women in education
99. As reported previously, Suriname has compulsory education from age 7 to age
12. The net enrolment ratio in primary education shows an increase from 91 per cent
in 2005 to 97 per cent in 2013. The net enrolment rate for male pupils increased
from 91 per cent in 2005 to 96 per cent in 2013 and for female pupils from 90 per
cent to 98 per cent in the respective periods. According to MICS 2010, there was an
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increase in the proportion of children entering first grade of primary school and
reaching grade 5, from 94 per cent in 2004 to 96 per cent in 2010.
100. Women have made notable progress at all levels of education since the last
CEDAW Suriname report. At the primary level the enrolment of boys is slightly
higher compared to girls. In the first 3 grades girls account for 46 per cent compared
to boys (47.5 per cent), while in the sixth grades more girls than boys have been
enrolled (54.2 per cent). Within the school year 2008 -2009, more female (65.7) than
male (34.3 per cent) students have been enrolled from the secondary to tertiary level
education. At the junior secondary level the proportion of girls is 51.5 per cent and
at the senior secondary level 58.4 per cent.
101. Women account for almost two thirds of the total students at Anton de Kom
University of Suriname; Institute for the Training of Teachers (IOL) for teaching at
secondary level; Institute for the training of Teachers for the Basic Level (LOBO);
Polytechnic College (PTC); and Academy for Art and Culture (AHKCO).
102. Data collected through the 8th Census (2012) show that the proportion of
persons in Suriname with university education has increased from a total of 7,959 in
2004 (of which 3,702 are women) to 12,797 (of which 6,770 are women).
103. The gender parity index shows clearly that female pupils and students perform
better at almost all educational levels and that Suriname has almost reached the
MDG targets for enrolment of women in education.
104. Although the picture is very positive from the perspective of enrolment of
female pupils and students at all educational levels, there are still some issues which
need government attention in the sphere of gender equality in education, among
which disparities between regions and the fact that less girls than boys start primary
school.
105. In general, women dominate the teaching professions, but there are differences
between the various teaching levels. Women accounted for:
• 94 per cent of primary school teaching staff (period 2010-2013);
• 75 per cent of lower (junior) secondary teaching staff (period 2010-2012);
• 66 per cent of upper (senior) secondary teaching staff (period 2010-2011).
106. At the ADEKUS more men than women account for the majority of the
teaching staff. Especially within the Faculty of Technological Sciences and the
Faculty of Medical Sciences the presence of male lecturers is two to three times the
presence of female lecturers.
107. As of the academic year 2005-2006, the presence of female students is two
times the presence of male students. In e.g. the academic year 2012-2013, 2738 (68
per cent) out of 4001 students were female. A majority (1898) of these female
students were enrolled at the Faculty of Social Sciences.
108. Within the Faculty of Technological Sciences there was a low enrolment of
female students in the fields of Electrical Engineering (39 per cent) and Mechanical
Engineering (32 per cent), but a high enrolment in other fields such as
Environmental Sciences (77 per cent), Agricultural Production (83 per cen t),
Infrastructure (54 per cent) and Mineral Production (62 per cent). This is also the
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case within the Faculty of Medical Sciences (Physiotherapy (75 per cent), Medical
Sciences (56 per cent) and in all fields of the Faculty of Social Sciences.
109. While women account for a higher proportion of students at all existing levels,
they are enrolled mainly in female-dominated areas of all existing technical and
vocational education. Thus, despite the fact that girls/women have a higher
enrolment and better performance results in education, inequality in the labour
market will persist since women have less access to non -traditional jobs and
management positions at all levels, even if they are higher educated than men (2010
Census).
110. According to data of the 2012 Census, 43 per cent of the Surinamese
population attained primary school as the highest educational level, while 31 per
cent did not continue education after secondary junior level. The proportion of
persons that finalized tertiary education is only 5.4 per cent, of which 2.4 per cent is
a university graduate (2010 Census).
Literacy rates and adult education programmes
111. The MICS 2010 Suriname study showed that in 2010, 92 per cent of women
aged 15-24 years were literate, that literacy rates in urban areas (96 per cent) are
higher than those in rural areas (80 per cent) and have been observed to be
substantially lower in the rural interior (54 per cent) than in the rural coastal areas
(93 per cent).
112. The government positively contributes to literacy by providing adult education
to those who have not been able to enrol in education at an early age. The adult
education programmes “Bigi Suma Skoro” include four stages of one year, starting
with literacy classes up to the 6th grade of primary education. The classes are well
spread over the district of Paramaribo and several other districts. Participants are
aged 18 to 71 years, the majority being women. From 2011 to 2012, 88 per cent of
applicants for adult education classes were women of which 83 per cent women
participated in these classes.
Prevention of dropouts as a result of adolescent pregnancies
113. Guaranteeing access to education by teenage mothers has special attention of
the Government, because teenagers who become pregnant are more likely to drop
out of school. Since 1988, the Government is implementing a programme that
provides support and counselling to teenage mothers who make the choice to
re-entry school and register mandatory for participation. The focus of this Teen
Mothers Programme (Project Scholieren Moeders) is empowerment with tools to
continue school, prevent future unintended pregnancies and increase chances for the
labour market. Its headquarters is in Paramaribo, but teen mothers from the districts
of Commewijne, Para and Wanica may also participate. At present a special
decentralized programme is being prepared for the Districts of Marowijne and Para.
The Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs runs this programme, while the Ministry of
Education provides support by developing and implementing regulations to prevent
removal from school or provide for the re-entry of pregnant teen girls in school.
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The same opportunities for boys and girls to benefit from scholarships
114. Entrance fees for participation in primary and junior secondary education have
been removed since school year 2012-2013, and a large number of schools and
classrooms have been built from 2012 onwards in order to increase enrolment of
children in the interior.
115. In order to guarantee and increase access of children of all social classes to all
levels of education, the government provides financial support (grants) to children
of lower income and poor families.
116. The Bureau for Educational Information and Study Facilities (B.O.S.) of the
Ministry of Education provides information on possibilities to study in Suriname
and abroad. In addition, career counselling is provided by the Youth Welfare
Foundation of the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs through media and annual
expositions.
117. In July 2009, the Government established the Study Finance Fund, awarding
loans upon application to students of higher education with an interest rate of 4 per
cent. This fund is managed by the National Development Bank. Since the
establishment of this fund, more women than men have been granted loans. In the
period 2010-2014, from the total of 1506 grants, 1056 were awarded to women and
450 to men. The major beneficiaries are from the District of Paramaribo, followed
by the District of Wanica.
118. University students only pay entrance fee and no college fees. All students
have the opportunity to apply for a study grant through the University Board.
Students also have an option to make use of a special window for student loans,
which is made available by local banks, i.e. the Hakrinbank and the National
Development Bank.
Article 11
Labour
Government employment policies and labour legislation
119. There are no laws that differentiate based on gender regarding the right to
work, men and women have the right to equal remuneration for the same work or
position, and all are free to develop their economic opportunities as preferred.
Regulations regarding labour for the private sector are included in the Civil Code
and for the public sector in the Act on the Regulation of the Legal Status of Civil
Servants.
120. The National Development Plan 2006-2011 and the Development Plan 2012-
2016 both state that employment is crucial for the well-being and welfare of people.
As such, government policy focuses on the creation of sufficient employment
opportunities with adequate remuneration, social security and protection. Measures
to increase employment opportunities are directly related to poverty reduction. To
eradicate poverty and strengthen social protection, a National Social Security
System has been established through the adoption and implementation of three
social laws, namely the Minimum Hour Wage Act, the National Pension Benefits
Act and the National Basic Health Insurance Act. Major beneficiaries of these
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interventions are women, considering their overrepresentation in lower income
groups and the growing number of female heads of households.
121. The Government has committed itself to ratify ILO Convention 111, but there
is no national job classification and remuneration system in place in particular for
the private sector.
Right to choose a job
Economic active women
122. Compared to data from the 2004 Census, the data collected from the 8th
Census in 2012 show that in absolute terms women’s’ employment shows a large
increase: in 2012 35 per cent more women were employed compared to 2004. The
female population age group 15-64 increased with 13 per cent during the same
period. This means that more employment was available for women and that
relatively more women used their right to paid work. A closer look shows that the
number of employed women in a percentage of the total female population aged 15-
64, increased with only 6 per cent within 8 years, compared to an increase of 15 per
cent for men in the same age group.
123. According to the last Census (2012), women have a higher representation (47
per cent) than men (21 per cent) in occupations which require higher education,
while men are proportionally better represented (73 per cent) in the occupations
which require less education or vocational training. This is related to the fact that in
recent years, the number of women who graduate from university is much higher
than the number of men, as explained in the previous chapter.
Women’s unemployment rate
124. The overall unemployment rate increased from 9 per cent in 2004 to 10 per
cent in 2012. The rate for women increased with 1 per cent, while the rate for men
remained the same. Of all economically active unemployed persons, 60 per cent
were women and 40 per cent were men. The share of women in the unemployed
category increased from 53 per cent in 2004 to 60 per cent in 2012, whi le the share
of men decreased from 47 per cent to 40 per cent.
125. From 2010 to 2013 about 60-75 per cent of registered job-seekers were
women. According to the Ministry of Labour, about one third of the registered job -
seekers succeeded in finding a job with the assistance of the Ministry of Labour.
Right to vocational training
126. The Ministry of Labour has initiated some activities to encourage women to
participate in vocational training opportunities provided by the Ministry and to
improve access to employment of vulnerable groups, as follows:
127. An initiative of the Ministry to involve jobseekers in a housing project (2012 -
2013) resulted in the participation of 116 persons, 5 of which were women (4 per
cent), in a special free of charge training and coaching activities.
128. The vocational training institute (SAO) of the Ministry of Labour provides
schooling, re-training and further training of job-seekers, drop-outs and workers on
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behalf of the Labour Market. Besides expanding the different types of training
options, training is also offered in rural areas to increase accessibility for this target
group. The participation rate of women in training courses is 48 per cent. In general,
women participants in SAO training courses tend to make choices for subjects like
Nail Decorations, Pedicure, Manicure, Face Treatment, Hairdressing, Nurse -maid,
Textiles, Home Care. Men tend to participate in SAO courses like Auto Mechanics,
Computer Hardware, Defensive Driving, Electro Techniques, Installer of Gas, Wa ter
and Sanitation, Cooling Techniques, Welding, Operation of Excavator, Installation
of Power Units, Organization and Management. SAO has not yet been able to deal
with this problem of segregation in vocational training choices and practices.
129. Foundation Productive Work Units (SPWE), a Department of the Ministry of
Labour, offers coaching and training to micro and small entrepreneurs. Women ’s
participation in these courses and programs is very high, i.e. 59 per cent in training
courses and 88 per cent in coaching programmes during 2010-2013.
130. The Ministry of Home Affairs also provides educational courses to civil
servants. Over the past 10 years, more women than men have enrolled in these
courses (V.A.A.O 1st yr., 89 per cent; V.A.A.O 2nd yr, 87 per cent; Pre-training
‘Surnumerair’ (84 per cent); ‘Surnumerair’ (83 per cent).
Right to equal remuneration and benefits
131. No statistics are available on incomes of employed persons by sex and per
sector over the 2002-2014 period. There are also no data available regarding
differences in salaries between men and women with the same job under equal
qualifications. There are also no complaints filed at the Ministry of Labour on this
matter. The public sector maintains a fixed salary wage for officials (FISO). Private
companies with a Collective Labour Agreement also have wage ranges. With regard
to the smaller companies, it is unclear how the wage structure looks like.
Equal protection against arbitrary dismissal
132. Women as well as men are protected against arbitrary dismissal of employees
through the law “Dismissal Permits” (‘Ontslagvergunning’). This law determines
that an employer is required to obtain a permit from the Ministry of Labour for
immediate dismissal of an employee.
Protection of women against discrimination based on maternity
Paid leave, including maternity leave
133. According to Article 35 of the Constitution, working women have the right to
maternity leave while keeping their salary. Their payment does not vary according
to specific variables. In practice, paid maternity leave is covered for civil servants
(during 12 weeks) and for private companies with a Collective Labour Agreement,
however, due to the absence of national legislation on maternity leave, large groups
of working women in the informal sector and small businesses sector are still not
entitled to these maternity rights. In the Draft Revised Civil Code, paid maternity
leave by all employers is made mandatory, however it is not clear when this law will
be approved.
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134. In 2003, the Government Act on Maternity Leave was revised and made more
flexible: instead of the former compulsory 6 weeks before and 6 weeks maternity
leave after child birth, pregnant women can, after consultation with a doctor,
continue to work up to two weeks prior to childbirth.
135. Apart from maternity leave, women have the same rights as men regarding
paid leave in general for a maximum number of days annually, without the risk of
losing their job.
Protective legislation
Sexual harassment at the workplace
136. Draft legislation on “Sexual harassment at the Workplace” has been
formulated as a combined effort of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the NGO Ilse
Henar Foundation for Women’s Rights, as a result of the 3 year programme (2008-
2011) on the prevention and elimination of sexual harassment at the workplace, as
implemented by this NGO. As part of the programme, research on the occurrence
and nature of sexual harassment was conducted at ten companies, which provided
detailed input for the development of a Model Code of Conduct and a Model Policy
on Sexual Harassment for Companies. Policy on sexual harassment had been
formulated for eight companies and ministries, among which the Ministry of Justice
and Police and the Ministry of Labour. The draft law has been discussed at several
national platforms, involving all relevant stakeholders.
Article 12
Health
137. Significant interventions by the Ministry of Health in various areas which
involve the health situation and health development of women, have contributed to
increased women’s access to health services with a focus on the following areas:
• Policy development
• Life expectancy
• Maternal health
• HIV/AIDS/STI
• Cervical cancer treatment
• Improved data collection.
Policy development
138. The Ministry of Health has developed some significant policies and plans of
actions, aimed at increasing access for women to health, guided by a human rights
based approach and a gender perspective:
• National Strategic Plan for Prevention and Control of Cervical Cancer 2003-
2009
• National Strategic Plan HIV 2004-2008 and 2009-2013; 2014-2020
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• National Strategic Plan Renewal and Strengthening of Primary Health Care
2014-2018
• Safe Motherhood and Neonatal Health Action Plan, based on the Safe
Motherhood
• Needs Assessment 2014
• National Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Policy of Suriname,
2013-2017.
Improved life expectancy of women
139. The overall life expectancy at birth increased from 65.9 to 70.8 yea rs between
1980 and 2012.
Improved maternal health
140. In order to report on the progress with regard to maternal health, it is worth
mentioning achievements made in the areas of reducing maternal mortality,
improved birth attendance by skilled personnel and increased access to reproductive
health.
Reduced maternal mortality
141. With regard to the maternal mortality ratio, a variety of nationwide and
community based initiatives have successfully been developed to contribute in
achieving a reduction of maternal mortality. As a result, maternal mortality ratio has
dropped from 153 in 2000 to 82.5 in 2011. Since 2009 the decrease is very
remarkable, when the ratio was 122.5. In 2012 another notable fall was registered
when the rate was calculated at 48.9.
142. Most important causes of maternal mortality as registered are Pregnancy
Induced Hypertension (PIH), excessive loss of blood (HPP) and complications
during pregnancy, delivery or in puerperium.
Birth attendance of skilled personnel
143. According to data collected through MICS in 2010, 94.3 per cent of all
deliveries were attended by skilled health personnel (MICS 2010) compared to 93.4
per cent in 2006. According to MICS 2010 a proportion of 92.3 per cent of all
deliveries took place in a health facility of which 71.5 per cent in a public health
facility and 20.8 per cent in a private health facility, while 3.9 per cent of the
deliveries took place at home (MICS 2010).
144. Notwithstanding, the National Safe Motherhood Assessment of 2011 recorded
a great need for rapid expansion and scale-up of the number of midwives and others
with midwifery competencies and quality of midwifery care to meet the demand.
145. The regulation, accreditation, proper delegation of authority and supportive
supervision of midwives was considered of equal importance.
146. Attendance of births by skilled personnel is more frequent in urban areas (96.5
per cent in 2006) than in rural areas (MICS 2006). In 2008 the Medical Mission
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reported that 83 per cent of deliveries in the interior were attended by trained
personnel, while 11 per cent were attended by a traditional midwife and 1 per cent
had no special skilled support. Data will be made available through new MICS.
Increased access to reproductive health
147. To measure progress with regard to increased access to reproductive health,
data has been gathered on the contraceptive prevalence rate, the adolescence birth
rate, antenatal care and needs for family planning.
Increased contraceptive prevalence rate
148. According to the 2010 MICS report, the use of contraception was reported by
48 per cent of women currently married or in union, compared to 42 per cent in
2000. The most popular method was oral contraceptive (the pill), which was used by
one out of four married women in Suriname (25 per cent in 2000 as well). The
second most prevalent method was female sterilization, which accounted for 11 per
cent of married women (9 per cent in 2000). Variable proportions ranging between
2-5 per cent of women reported the use of Intra-Uterine Devices (IUD), injectables,
and the male condom. Less than 1 per cent used periodic abstinence, withdrawal,
male sterilization, implants, the female condom, or any other method (same in
2000).
149. Contraceptive prevalence was highest in some rural districts: Commewijne (62
per cent), Wanica (52 per cent), Nickerie (51 per cent) and Saramacca (54 per cent).
Prevalence according to the 2000 MICS report was 45 per cent for rural areas. In
2010, two districts in the interior had the lowest contraceptive prevalence:
Brokopondo (26 per cent) and Sipaliwini (25 per cent), but compared to 3.7 per cent
in 2000, contraceptive use was 7 times higher than a decade ago. There are no
specific plans in place for increased contraceptive prevalence of the underserved
populations, e.g. Maroons and Indigenous populations in the rural interior.
150. In 2000, women in the age group 20-29 years were the dominant users of
contraceptives (50 per cent); in 2010 contraceptive prevalence was highest among
women of the age group 35-39 years (56 per cent). Within the age groups 15-19 and
20-24 years, respectively 42 per cent and 41 per cent reported using contraception.
New data after 2010 will be made available through the new MICS.
Lower adolescent birth rate
151. Because both the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) and the General Fertility Rate
(GFR) fluctuated between 2000 and 2007, there is no clear indication whether
fertility has increased or decreased in this period. The Gross Reproduction Rate
(GRR) for 2007 was 1.19.
152. Data provided by the most recent 2012 Census enables a comparison between
2011 and 2012: the adolescent birth rate decreased from 58.0 births for women aged
15-19 years in 2011 to 51.9 births for the same age group (data from 2012 Census
Volume I, page 36). Article 10 deals with government intervention to reduce
adolescent pregnancies.
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Improved antenatal care
153. Overall coverage was at 94.9 per cent in 2010 (MICS). Mother and child care
is traditionally considered an important task of the Ministry of Health. The Bureau
for Public Health (BOG) prepares and guides implementation of the policies
regarding prenatal care for health centres, day-care centres and school children.
Prenatal guidance is available through the outpatients’ units of the Regional Health
Department, the Medical Mission health centres, and private physicians, while after -
delivery care and guidance is provided through health centres and well -baby clinics.
Unmet need for family planning
154. In 2010, national unmet need for family planning was determined at 16.9 per
cent, with highest unmet need among women in the interior: 34 per cent (MICS
2010). Due to relatively low use of contraceptives, the r isk of unintended pregnancy
is high, resulting in an estimated amount of 5,000 to 10,000 abortions per year,
which is a rate of 43 to 86 abortions per 1.000 women, aged 15 -44 years (Report
Terborg, J. 2011). Data after 2010 will be made available through new MICS.
155. There are no specific plans in place to tackle this problem of low use of
contraceptives in the interior of Suriname.
Progress with regard to combating HIV/AIDS
156. In general, Suriname reports progress with regard to combating HIV/AIDS:
• ARV are available free of charge since 2005
• Production of 3 HIV treatment guidelines in 2009
• Increased access to HIV/AIDS testing and possibilities for Early Infant
Diagnosis of HIV/AIDS (available free of charge)
• NGOs are involved in providing HIV/AIDS services.
Progress related to women as registered between 2002 and 2014:
• Improved registration of HIV/AIDS diagnosed persons at national level,
resulting in more reliable data regarding the burden of disease, disaggregated
by sex and age.
• Screening of pregnant women: pregnant women constitute a cross -section of
the general, sexually active population and therefore provide a reasonable
estimation of the extent to which HIV has spread among the population.
Screening of pregnant women on HIV/AIDS has started since 2003, when the
HIV test was incorporated in the regular blood control of all pregnant women.
Those women who have been tested HIV positive are being coached and
provided with Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) during and after pregnancy.
Treatment of babies involved is included. Since the introduction of this
screening programme, the proportion of pregnant women being screened on
HIV/AIDS has increased from 30 per cent in 2003 to 75 per cent in 2005 and
84 per cent in 2010. Currently the test coverage is approximately 90-95 per
cent.
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• With the launch of the programme to prevent Mother -to-Child-Transmission of
HIV, congenital syphilis and hepatitis B in 2009 (PMTCT), various new
initiatives have taken place. The National Aids Programme (NAP)
implemented a national awareness programme for PMTCT. A focal point
system was installed to monitor all HIV positive pregnant women and their
babies, a PMTCT workgroup was installed, PMTCT protocol was updated, and
capacity building has taken place. This has led to a reduction of the
transmission from mother to child from 10 per cent to 5 per cent in the period
2009 to 2012. Preliminary data for 2013 give a prevalence of 0 per cent of
HIV among children born out of HIV positive mothers.
• Decrease of HIV/AIDS prevalence: HIV prevalence jumped from the 10th
place on the list of death causes to the 5th place for the period 2000 -2005,
which was a very alarming trend. UNAIDS (2008) indicated for the same
period that prevalence of male and female of the age group 15-29 years was
respectively 2.7 per cent and 1.4 per cent, the highest score of the Latin -
American and Caribbean region and one of the top 3 scores of the Caribbean
region.
• Fortunately, between 2007 and 2011 there has been a steady decline with
regard to the number of newly registered HIV-cases, from 683 new cases in
2007 to 486 cases in 2011. Deaths due to AIDS dropped from 181 in 2005, to
105 in 2011 (Suriname, AIDS Response Progress Report 2012 -2014).
Although still high, during ten years the HIV proportion of pregnant women
remained stable around 1 per cent.
• The prevalence of HIV among young women and men aged 15 -24 dropped
slightly from 1 per cent in 2006 to 0.9 per cent respectively in 2007 and 2008
and further to 0.7 in 2010.
• With regard to prevalence of HIV/AIDS some risk groups need special
attention. This is the case for commercial sex workers and women of the
interior.
• A study of 2004 conducted by CAREC in cooperation with the Maxilinder
Foundation in Paramaribo among sex workers recorded that more than one
third of male (36.2 per cent) and one fifth of female sex workers (21.7 per
cent) was HIV positive. A more recent study of CAREC (2012) pointed out a
larger discrepancy between male and female sex workers: 30.8 per cent of
male compared to only 3.8 per cent of female sex workers.
• In addition attention from the government is needed for:
• Continued and effective promotion of consistent condom use and
sufficient availability of affordable condoms;
• Strengthening of care for HIV positive persons to enhance HIV
treatment, adherence and counselling;
• Early detection of HIV, especially among males;
• Reduction of stigma and discrimination on all levels of care, especially
among sexual minorities and women living with HIV; and
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• Implementation of HIV prevention programs targeting married women
and women in other conjugal relations.
• Increasing knowledge of HIV/AIDS within the age group 15 -24 years: The
percentage of women aged 15-49 years who have comprehensive knowledge
of HIV/AIDS transmission was 39.3 per cent in 2006 and 42.5 per cent in
2010. This comprehensive knowledge is highest in the urban areas (47 per
cent) and lowest in the rural interior areas (21 per cent). In the coastal rural
areas the proportion was 37 per cent.
• According to MICS 2010, overall, 93 per cent of Surinamese women know
that HIV can be transmitted from mother to child. The proportion of women
overall who know all three ways of mother-to-child transmission, however,
decreased from 57.9 per cent in 2006 to 52 per cent in 2010, while 5 per cent
of the women did not know of any specific way remained the same (5 per cent
in 2006 and same in 2010).
• Increased access to treatment: according to the Suriname UNGASS Report
2012, the proportion of population with advanced HIV infection with access to
HIV treatment increased from 27 per cent in 2004 to 81 per cent in 2012.
Treatment of HIV positive pregnant women and their children increased from
64 per cent in 2006 to 98 per cent in 2011. In 2011, 98 per cent of the children
born out of HIV positive women received treatment (Suriname UNGASS
Report, 2012).
• An increasing number of people, adults and children, are on antiretroviral
drugs. In 2008, the proportion of population with access to ART based on the
national HIV treatment guidelines (persons are eligible to start with ART if the
CD4 cell count is 200 cells/mm3 or less) increased from 62 per cent to 82 per
cent in 2012.
Improved treatment of cervical cancer
157. According to the 2014 National Review BPfA+20, the main cause of death in
Suriname is cardiovascular diseases, with an equal share of males and females,
respectively 27.1 per cent in 2011. The second and third main cause of death among
women is respectively cancers 14 per cent and Diabetes Mellitus (10 per cent).
Alarming is women’s share in cancers, in particular reproductive health cancers.
158. While overall cancer incidence is low, mortality incidence of cancers of the
reproductive organs, in particular breast cancer and cervical cancer, places Suriname
in the category of developing countries with the highest cervical cancer incidence
rates.
159. The GOS has endorsed the Regional Strategy and Plan of Action for Cervical
Cancer Prevention and Control commitment for the control and treatment of
cervical cancer. Both Government and NGOs (especially the Family Planning
Association, ‘Stichting Lobi’) have made efforts to address the problems posed by
breast and cervical cancers via screening and treatment programmes. In addition, by
2012 the Government introduced the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination
into the national immunization programme. HPV infection is a well -established
cause of cervical cancer, with growing evidence of HPV being a relevant factor in
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other anogenital cancers (anus, vulva, vagina and penis) and head and neck cancers.
HPV types 16 and 18 are responsible for about 70 per cent of all cervical cancer
cases worldwide.
160. Based on South American studies on conducting HPV detection tests in
cervical samples, the HPV and Related Diseases Report states that about 14.4 per
cent of women in the general population are estimated to harbour cervical HPV
infection and 72 per cent of invasive cervical cancers are attributed to HPVs 16 or
18. The HPV vaccines prevent against HPV 16 and 18 infections and have the
potential to reduce the incidence of cervical and other anogenital cancers.
Improved access of women to health insurance
161. Data derived from the 2004 and 2012 National Census show an increase of the
proportion of the Surinamese population with health insurance coverage from 64 per
cent in 2004 up to 77 per cent in 2012. No data are available by sex.
162. In preparation of the basic health insurance system, since 2013 all children
aged 0-16 years and all senior citizens aged 60+ have access to health care,
including those who were previously not covered.
Improved data collection on women’s health
163. The Government and NGOs have produced a large number of studies on
maternal health, sexual and reproductive health, HIV/STI, adolescents’ health, SRH
indicators, quality of care, and sex workers. The Multi Cluster Indicators Survey
(MICS) that has been conducted in 2000, 2006 and 2010 is a valuable national
source on women’s health.
Article 13
Social and economic life
164. A priority of the Government is to realize a national social security plan. After
deliberations and tripartite consultations, proposals for a Minimum Hour Wage Act,
a National Pension Benefits Act and a National Health Insurance Act have been
approved by the National Assembly in August 2014. These Acts will also serve the
purpose of regulating the informal economy.
Access to family benefits
165. As previously reported, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Public Housing
provides some family benefits, including General Old Age Allowance (AOV),
Financial Assistance (FB), Medical Assistance for Disadvantaged Groups (GH),
Child Allowance (AKB), Financial Assistance for School Materials and Utensils,
Financial Assistance for Calamities, and Financial Assistance for Medical Utensils.
The Ministry provides subsidies for social institutions like children’s homes, homes
for disabled children, elderly homes and day-care centres (run by the Government).
The Ministry is responsible for preparing the legislation for all these plans. The
Ministry has prepared the Law on Social Shelters (‘Wet Opvanginstellingen’), which
was approved by parliament in 2014. The Law provides for the rules, regulations,
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quality standards and obligations for the registration of social shelters for children,
disabled persons and old age persons.
Senior citizens support plans
166. Suriname has several support systems for the elderly, among others:
• The Civil Servants Pension Fund (‘Pensioenfonds Suriname’):
• The government manages a pension system granting a pension to Surinamese
civil servants and employees of State-owned enterprises. In addition, the
Governmental Pension Bureau manages a Widows Pension System for widows
of civil servants and employees of State-owned enterprises. A comparison
between 2002 and 2013 shows that the percentage of women receiving pension
increased from 40 per cent to 44 per cent, while women receiving widow’s
pension, shows a slight decrease from 94 per cent in 2002 to 91 per cent in
2013.
• The General Old Age Allowance (AOV):
• A non-contributory social system, granted to all Surinamese who have lived in
Suriname until the age of 60, also managed by the Government, i.e. the
Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing. This benefit was increased from SRD
275 in 2008 to SRD 350 in 2010; to SRD 425 in 2011; and to SRD 525
monthly in 2012; a 90.9 per cent increase from 2007 to 2012. In 2011, a total
number of 46,266 persons were eligible for this benefit, 55 per cent of whom
were women.
• A comparison between 2002 and 2011 shows that the overall proportion of
women beneficiaries remained stable between 54 per cent and 55 per cent
respectively.
Child allowance
167. Child allowance for 4 children at the maximum was raised from SRD 3 to
SRD 30 per child monthly since 2011 (900 per cent increase). Women account for
the largest group of registered grantees. For the year 2013 the number of women
registered as grantees was 34,713 (91 per cent) compared to 3183 men (9 per cent).
The largest number of child allowance grantees (11,910 persons) was from the
District of Paramaribo, of whom 93 per cent was female (11,124 women), followed
by the District of Wanica and the District of Sipaliwini.
After school program
168. Children at primary level are eligible for participation in an after school
program, during which they receive free meals, homework guidance and guidance in
recreational and sports activities.
Financial assistance
169. Financial assistance is granted to poor individuals and households on
subsistence level and has two components, namely Financial Assistance to Single
Persons and Households, and Financial Assistance to Disabled Persons. The
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Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing has requested the Government to increase
the assistance for single persons from SRD 33 to SRD 108 (227 per cent increase)
and for households from SRD 40.50 to SRD 115.50, a 185 per cent increase.
170. The Disabled Persons Benefit was increased from SRD 150 to SRD 225 in
2011 (50 per cent increase). Women made up 56.5 per cent of the total number of
grantees for financial assistance in 2009 (4347 of 7,696 persons).
Women as major beneficiaries of social benefit plans
171. Women’s major presence as grantees for Financial Assistance and Child
Allowance is related to their position as care takers in families and a relatively high
prevalence of households headed by women, both in the coastal areas and in the
interior.
Immaterial support services
172. In addition to material social benefits (food provision to social institutions and
families and a community development programme) the Government, through the
Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing, provides immaterial services, such as
coaching to families, elderly and disabled persons. Services to children include
running a home for disintegrated youth, a vocational training programme for
disabled youth and a telephone aid coaching service for children and youth. These
service programmes focus on empowerment of families and individuals as an
important tool to develop ownership and to reach sustainability.
Conditional cash transfers
173. In 2011, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) provided 15 million US
Dollars for the execution of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme (CCT) run
by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing, in collaboration with the Ministries
of Education, Health and Finance and other institutions. The programme focuses on
conditional financial assistance related to the participation of children in education
and in child health activities.
Access to adequate housing
174. The Government of Suriname, in collaboration with the private sector and
NGOs, implemented the first Low Income Shelter Programme (LISP) 2003 -2008
with the support of the IDB. LISP is designed for low-income households (earning
between SRD 675 and SRD 900), providing them an opportunity to renovate their
own home, or to build a new house for a maximum amount of USD 10,000, with
coaching provided by NGOs and CBOs. LISP 1 resulted in the support of 891 newly
built houses and 2,380 renovations and/or expansions of homes. Successful
evaluations resulted in the implementation of the second LISP programme (2010 -
2015), which has been extended to rural districts and the interior and plans to build
3,100 homes within five years. In addition, the Government implements the Low-
Middle Income Shelter Program (LMISP) for low or middle income households
(SRD 900 to SRD 2,030 monthly). Loans are provided to a maximum of SRD
25,000 for renovation and SRD 50,000 for a new house at a low interest rate
between 5-6 per cent. In addition, there is a window for 7 per cent loans to facilitate
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construction of houses by families, guaranteed through a special cash reserve
programme between the Central Bank of Suriname and local financial institutions.
175. Data provided by the LISP office show that 44 per cent of the support or
subsidy for the ongoing LISP 2010-2015 Programme until June 2014 was granted to
women.
Access to banks, mortgages and other types of financial credit
176. The Government, in collaboration with development partners, NGOs and the
private sector (banks, credit cooperatives), has invested in the provision of
microfinance credit to address immediate household needs of poor households,
support women in the development of small-scale women businesses and increase
access of female entrepreneurs to credits.
177. In this context, the Micro Credit Fund (‘Micro Kredietfonds’) was established
in February 2010, enabling small-scale entrepreneurs (the majority of whom is
female) access to small loans from SRD 5,000 tot SRD 6,000 with or without
collateral. The funds which were reserved for this programme are being managed by
the ‘Suritrust Bank’, while loans are being provided through the Credit Cooperative
‘De Schakel’ and through two NGOs, namely the Women Business Group
Foundation and the SEWA Foundation.
Article 14
Rights of rural women
Importance of agriculture
178. With a traditional focus on mineral resources, agriculture contributes a
relatively small share of gross domestic product, averaging 5 -7 per cent annually.
Much of this contribution comes from rice and banana production, shrimp and fish
exports. Even though Suriname totals 6.4 million ha of land, of which 1.5 million ha
is considered arable land, only a very small percentage of the population is currently
engaged in agriculture, estimated at 15 per cent of the labour force. Agriculture is,
however, critical to the targeted diversification of Suriname’s economy towards its
sustainable development, as presented in the current National Development Plan
(2012-2016). The focus on agriculture will complement the Government ’s efforts at
alleviating poverty, which is most evident in rural districts and in the interior where
ethnic minorities live in tribal communities (Maroons and Indigenous people) and
where agricultural activities are the main responsibility of women.
Access of rural women to social security
179. In general, women in the rural and rural interior areas make great use of the
social security plans provided by government, such as child allowance, old age
allowance, financial assistance and health assistance. According to the UNDAF
report for the period 2002-2006, 91.4 per cent of people living in the interior of
Suriname live in extreme poverty, and have low general scores in relation to the
MDG indicators. Women and children are most vulnerable, especially as a
consequence of mass urbanization of male and youth, in search of employment,
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incomes, secondary and higher education, leaving women behind who, under these
circumstances, end up as heads of households and sole earners of income.
180. Details regarding women’s proportion in existing social security plans are
provided under Article 13 of this report.
Access of rural women to health services
181. Providers of health care in the rural areas include government subsidized
primary health care organizations for the poor and near poor, namely the Regional
Health Service (RGD), a governmental body, which covers the coastal rural area,
while the Medical Mission covers the population living in the rural interior. The
Regional Health Service (RGD) covers approximately one third of Surinamese
patients. The Medical Mission, an NGO which is approximately 75 per cent
government subsidized, runs 56 health centres in the interior, providing services
regarding reproductive health, traditional health, immunization, HIV/AIDS, and
malaria. There is no information available on the proportion between male and
female patients.
Antenatal care
182. Overall, the vast majority of women obtained antenatal care from a doctor (71
per cent), nurse (19 per cent), midwife or a community health worker (4 per cent),
while 3 per cent received no antenatal care whatsoever (2010 MICS Suriname). In
the rural interior, relatively smaller proportions of women obtained care from
doctors, and relatively larger proportions obtained care from community health
workers compared with any of the other regions. As much as 54 per cent of rural
women claimed to have had such deliveries with assistance from a nurse/midwife,
while 36 per cent claimed they had such assistance from doctors (table 14.1).
183. Attendance of births by skilled people is more frequent in urban areas than in
rural areas. In 2008, the Medical Mission reported that 83 per cent of deliveries in
the interior were attended by trained personnel, while 11 per cent was attended by a
traditional midwife, and 1 per cent had no special skills support.
Contraceptive use
184. A 2010 MICS study found disparities in contraceptive use, with the lowest
contraceptive use occurring in the rural interior. Though low, there is an increase in
contraceptive use in the rural interior, from 14.6 per cent in 2006 to respectively 26
per cent and 25 per cent in the interior districts of Brokopondo and Sipaliwini, while
the overall unmet need for contraception was 34 per cent (16.9 per cent overall in
the country).
185. Tables on contraceptive prevalence rate, comparing the use of urban women
versus rural women from 1992 to 2010, are included in Article 12 of this report.
HIV/AIDS
186. With regard to prevalence of HIV/AIDS, some risk groups need special
attention. This is the case for sex workers and women of the interior, as indicated in
Article 12 of this report. Overall, 43 per cent of women were found to have
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comprehensive knowledge of HIV prevention, but there are significant differences
between the knowledge of women in urban areas (47 per cent), rural coastal areas
(37 per cent) and the rural interior (20 per cent).
Access of rural women to economic opportunities
Rural poverty
187. The total labour force in 2012 is determined at 215,788. The number of
employed and unemployed individuals in 2012 was respectively 188,229 and 27,559
with an unemployment rate of 12.8. Urban poverty exists but the main
disadvantaged groups are the Maroons and Indigenous people living in the vast
interior of the country. According to the PAHO, 69.2 per cent of Suriname ’s
population is living under the national poverty line (Rapid Assessment and Gap
Analysis Energy Sector Suriname, February 2014). Several MICS -Suriname studies
have shown a close relation between women’s educational level, wealth of
household and their sexual and reproductive health behaviour. Poor and low
educated women tend to have higher fertility rates, relatively low use of
contraceptives, are more at risk to become a teen mother, to get involved in high
risk sex work, and to get infected with HIV (National Review BPfA+20, Suriname,
May 2014).
Women in agriculture
188. Women fulfil many crucial roles as farmers, wage labourers and small -scale
entrepreneurs, as well as caretakers of children and the elderly and are therefore
capable to lift their households and communities out of poverty. However, women
still face persistent gender inequities that limit their access to land, credit, decent
incomes, technologies, information, advisory services and training.
189. In the rural interior the traditional systems of subsistence farming is under
pressure as a result of male migration to the coastal area and to the goldmines, in
search for employment — many rural women have an increased workload and
increased responsibilities. The majority of women in the interior cannot afford to
pay for services to clear the land, increased food prices and education of their
children, and as such are vulnerable to poverty.
190. Some NGOs like the National Women’s Movement, the Pater Ahlbrinck
Stichting (PAS) and Forum NGO have provided services to help tackle the problems
women farmers are facing, in both the coastal rural and the rural interior areas, in the
sphere of introducing commercial agriculture and assist in developing non -agriculture
economic activities. Services provided are related to capacity development on
entrepreneurship, establishment of local credit facilities, increased access to loans of
formal credit institutions, access to markets and networks. The Godo Bank has
established branches in the Upper Suriname River Area and in the District o f
Marowijne, bringing financial services and opportunities to access loans closer to
these groups, since 2008. The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and
Fisheries organizes national training courses “Stimulating Agro-Entrepreneurship”,
encouraging the participation of female producers. Data on the participation of women
in these courses is not available.
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191. Hence, the Government, i.e. the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry
and Fisheries together with other ministries, still needs to formulate and implement
policy on women economic development in the rural areas, including agriculture,
coupled with an integrated programme that is based on a thorough analysis of the
problems women farmers are facing at present.
Access of rural women to employment
192. Employment rates of Indigenous and Maroons are 6 per cent and 12 per cent
lower than the rest of the Surinamese population (table 14.3). Among the
Indigenous people the employment rate for women is about 10 per cent lower than
men’s, while among Maroon people the women’s rate is 20 per cent lower than
men’s.
Rural women involved in gold mining
193. The presence of women in small-scale mining is 5-10 per cent. A number of
these women own machines or operate as supervisor or are even owners of mines.
The majority, however, works in the services sector in hotels, bars, restaurants,
pharmacies, and beauty salons and as sex worker (Heemskerk 2003). No data is
available to make a comparison with the present position of women.
Enjoyment of adequate living conditions
194. In general, results of national surveys affirm the relatively lower access of
people, in particular women, living in the rural areas and the interior to adequate
public services such as clean water and sanitation, housing, education, health and
media.
Access to water and sanitation
195. MICS findings of 2010 compared to those of 2000 with regard to access of the
rural population to adequate drinking water resources show a remarkable
improvement. While in 2000, 92.6 per cent of urban and 66.6 per cent of rural
population had access, this was respectively 99 per cent and 85 per cent in 2010.
There is a marked difference between the urban and rural situation, which needs
attention from policy makers. 2010 MICS found that for the majority of households
without drinking water on the premises, an adult female is usually the person
collecting water (74 per cent). 14 per cent of the households relied on adult males
15 years or older to collect drinking water and only 3 per cent on children.
196. According to 2010 MICS, 91 per cent of the population of Suriname were
living in households using improved sanitation facilities, i.e. 98 per cent in urban
areas, 71 per cent in rural areas and 42 per cent in the rural inter ior. In rural areas
and in the rural interior, particularly in the districts of Sipaliwini, Brokopondo and
Marowijne, the population was more likely to use pit latrines without slabs. Even
more strikingly was the prevalence of no facilities in the rural in terior at 35 per cent
and 54 per cent in the districts of Brokopondo and Sipaliwini, respectively (2010
MICS).
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197. In 2000, the proportion of the population living in households with sanitary
means of excreta disposal was 88 per cent, also with vast differences between the
urban (98 per cent) and rural interior regions (30.5 per cent).
Access to energy
198. Electricity usage in 2012 was 48 per cent residential, 34 per cent industrial /
commercial and 18 per cent other sectors.
199. In the interior of Suriname small power systems exist, providing electric
power to local villages, which are owned and operated by the Ministry of Natural
Resources (‘Dienst Electriciteits Voorziening’). In 2012, an estimated total of 130
villages had a diesel unit installed.
200. Overall, 85 per cent of households have access to electricity networks and
approximate 16 per cent of the households use wood for fuel to cook, the latter
mainly in rural interior areas.
Access to communication technology and media
201. In 2006, results of the 7th Census showed that 70 per cent of households have
access to telecommunication; in 2010, this increased to 84 per cent, according to
MICS. The MICS results show a discrepancy in access to cellular phones of 84 per
cent in urban and 64.6 per cent in rural areas. The rural coastal areas had 68.9 per
cent access compared to a 56.3 per cent access of rural interior areas (2010 MICS
and General Bureau of Statistics 2006).
202. Much larger proportions of women were exposed to all media types
(newspaper, radio, television) in urban areas (75 per cent) than in rural areas (44 per
cent). In the rural interior, exposure to all three types of media was very low with
only 13 per cent of women having exposure to all. Exposure of women to all three
media was greatest in Paramaribo (77 per cent) and lowest in the District of
Sipaliwini (9 per cent) as presented by MICS 2010.
203. Some activities have taken place in the sphere of ICT, like the opening of an
E-learning centre in the Districts of Marowijne, (2011) and Para (two centres in
2012), the implementation of training by the Telecommunication Authority (TAS) in
2012, but the Government still has to develop a comprehensive programme
regarding the promotion of ICT in rural communities.
Article 15
Equality before the law
204. Gender equality is prescribed by the Constitution of Suriname (Article 8,
paragraph 2), and as such provides an important guideline for all laws, customs and
conditions. As indicated in the Third Periodic CEDAW Report of the Republic of
Suriname, this principle is not yet reflected in all statutory regulations. In this
reporting period much progress has been made with regard to legal products that
have been adopted by parliament, draft laws that have been submitted to parliam ent
or in the process of drafting, as set out in Article 2 of this report.
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205. This progress is the result of institutional measures taken by the Government
and civil society to advocate for equal rights, equal protection by law and to combat
gender based discrimination in all aspects of economic and social life. Indeed, as
individuals, or organized in civil society or through state mechanisms, women
constantly aim at drawing attention to the existing shortcomings and lobbying for
new or adapted instruments to serve the needs and interests in defending and
promoting their rights.
206. Apart from the progress in legislation, progress has been achieved in other
fields:
• Ownership and discussion on most of the issues by the public at large, as
opposed to ownership by only a select number of people in government, the
judiciary or politics;
• Breaking with the false assumption that some values are private, traditional or
cultural in order to justify or perpetuate gender inequality or male dominance
(sexual harassment, (domestic) violence (against women), position of women
in decision-making).
207. Although positive, there are some structural impediments to being successful
in the national efforts to reach gender equality before the law, in the first place in
the interpretation of gender in general and in the interpretation of legal instruments.
208. Strategies are needed to successfully deal with these impediments, in the
sphere of continued gender sensitizing of the educational administration and
teachers, of the justice and police administration, of decision-makers, the private
sector and the media and in the sphere of strengthening women themselves through
gender education, legal information and legal aid.
Article 16
Marriage and family relations
Same rights to enter into marriage
209. Regulations in the Civil Code regarding marriage were revised on June 23,
2003 (State Decree 2003/44). Although the amending law was approved by the
National Assembly in 1973, it came into force in 2003. As a resul t, the Asian
Marriage Law (the Hindu and the Muslim marriage Act) was dissolved. The revision
was based among other things on a recommendation of the NBG to maintain one
single marriage act, which would require parental approval up to the ages of 21 or
18, regardless of gender, thus prohibiting child marriages. The NBG based its
recommendations on legal, administrative, social and practical objections against
the implementation of two marriage laws, and the need for unity in the juridical
system. The following changes have been implemented through this revised version:
• The revision allows all Surinamese the right to solemnize a religious marriage
(according to Christian, Hindu, Muslim, or other religious traditions), which
consequently gets the status of a legal marriage;
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• There is uniformity in the age of consent for all Surinamese, while the age to
enter into marriage has been raised from 13 to 15 years for girls and from 15
to 17 years for boys;
• The maximum age for parental approval was changed into up to 21 years
(previously up to 30 years);
• Before the revision there were four cumulative grounds for divorce and now
there is one general ground for divorce namely permanent breakdown of a
marriage. This ground provides more possibilities for divorce.
Same rights and responsibilities during marriage and at its dissolution
Penalizing Rape in Marriage and Cohabitation
210. Rape within marriage is now defined as a criminal offence since the revision
of de Penal Code in 2009. The regulation has been formulated gender neutral,
allowing the penalization of rape regardless of gender.
The same rights to decide on the number and spacing of children
Access to contraceptives
211. The provisions that penalized the persons who exhibited contraceptives for the
prevention of pregnancies, offered contraceptives and contraceptives services and
the publications for the prevention of pregnancies, have been banned in 2009. MICS
used national indicators to show a slight increase in national prevalence of
contraceptive use, from 42 per cent in 2000 to 47.6 per cent in 2010 (MICS surveys
2000, 2006, and 2010). According to MICS 2010, national unmet need for family
planning was determined at 16.9 per cent, with highest unmet need among women
in the interior, i.e. 34 per cent.
212. In 2005 the Ministry of Health launched a campaign aimed at introducing the
female condom, which resulted in the provision of 100.000 female condoms to
women, free of charge.
213. During some decades ‘Stichting Lobi’, a family planning NGO, offers a broad
package of services in the sphere of sexual and reproductive health, including
family planning, preventive testing of cervical cancer and breast cancer,
contraceptives, HIV testing and counselling. In January 2009, ‘Stichting Lobi’ and
the Ministry of Health signed an agreement, granting ‘Lobi’ responsibility for the
national sexual and reproductive health policy.
214. The 2010 MICS study shows a correlation between women’s poverty and their
access to contraceptives. As contraceptives are less accessible to poor women, they
have higher fertility rates, are more at risk to get infected with STD’s or HIV-AIDS
and have a higher risk to become a teen mother.
215. Based on a recommendation by the NBG on subsidization of contraceptives,
the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing has developed policy to guarantee access
for poor women to contraceptive use through a subsidy plan. In addition, all women
who are insured through the State Insurance plan automatically have access to
contraceptives (the pill).
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216. In the interior, the Medical Mission provides information on family planning
and contraceptive use and provides contraceptives for free. Through the National
AIDS Programme condoms are being provided free of charge via several
decentralized distribution centres in urban areas. The Ministry of Health in
collaboration with the Rachab Foundation (former Maxi Linder) provides condoms
to HIV/AIDS risk groups, such as commercial sex workers.
The same rights and responsibilities as parents in matters relating to
their children
Parental rights and responsibilities
217. In the Draft Revised Civil Code, the principle of equality with regard to
parental authority and custody of children is underlined, stating that expenses by
parents will be divided proportionally, according to their respective incomes.
Rights of children to be heard
218. The Law on the Right to be Heard was adopted by the National Assembly in
February 2008. This Law provides for the hearing of minors in court decisions that
impact their position in civil law cases, such as adoption procedures and custody
matters related to divorce of parents. It is obligatory to hear children from 12 years
of age, except when physically or psychologically the child is not in the position to
be heard or when it is necessary to appoint a guardian for example in all cases
where the parent has a conflict of interest with of his /her minor children. With the
passing of this law the national legislation has been harmonized with the
Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 12).
Parental visitation rights
219. In December 2002, the Law on Parental Visitation Rights was passed,
establishing visiting rights between parents who have not been granted custody of
their minor children, both in situations of divorce and in situations other than
divorce. This law is of great importance for a harmonious and balanced growth and
socio-emotional development of children.
Nationality of Children
220. Article 3 of the Law on Nationality and Residency of 1975 states that a child
who is born within marriage or born out of wedlock, but is legally recognized by its
father who at the time of birth has the Surinamese nationality, automatically gets the
Surinamese nationality. The Revised Law on Regulation Surinamese Nationality and
Residency of 2014 states that “Surinamese by birth is the child, whose father or
mother possesses the Surinamese nationality at the time of birth of the child. ”
The same personal rights as a wife
221. It is custom in Suriname that married women bear their husband’s surname or
bear the husband’s surname prior to the own surname. If the Draft Civil Code is
passed both married men and women are entitled to bear each other ’s surname or
bear the other’s surname prior to the own surname or bear the own surname prior to
the other’s surname. Moreover, one is not — as is the case in some countries —
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legally obliged to use the own surname. A similar revision has been proposed in the
Draft Civil Code regarding the name for children. For children who are born in
marriage or who have been legally recognized by their father, both parents have the
option to choose between the surname of the father, mother or a combination of
both, in a sequence that they prefer. Whenever a surname has been chosen for the
first child, the other children will automatically bear that surname.
222. The Ministry of Justice and Police is preparing legislation that no longer will
oblige married women to use the surname of their husband on their identity card.
Amendment of the ‘Personeelswet’
223. Article 15 paragraph 1, Article 47 paragraph 9 and Article 69 paragraph 3 of
the Act on the Regulation of the Legal Status of Civil Servants have been amended
in the draft. According to Article 15.1 only married women are eligible to enter into
a labour contract with the government.
224. Furthermore, Article 47 paragraph 9 holds that the active service is interrupted
by exemption from service because of pregnancy and childbirth, with the result that
the entitlement to annual leave is reduced. Article 69 paragraph 3 states that
formally the government may terminate a labour contract with a female civil servant
as she is getting married. Important to note is that the Articles 15 paragraph 1 and
69 paragraph 3 are not applied in practice.
The right of women to live their life free of violence
Domestic violence against women
225. Domestic violence against women has remained a serious problem. The
Ministry of Justice and Police registered 9492 cases of domestic violence between
2008 and 2013, 67 per cent of which have been regarding violence against women.
In 91 per cent of the cases the perpetrator was male. The number of cases is more or
less stable at an average between 1400 and 1600 cases annually, with a peak of 1916
cases in 2009. Most cases are reported in the districts of Paramaribo (56.0 per cent),
Wanica (24.1 per cent) and Nickerie.
226. The Ministry of Justice and Police provides resources for victims of domestic
violence and continues to provide information on domestic violence through public
television programs. There are victims rooms in several police stations in
Paramaribo and Nickerie. Authorities have trained police units how to deal with
survivors and perpetrators of sexual crimes and domestic violence. In 2013 judges
have been trained, with regard to effective and efficient implementation of the Law
on Domestic Violence. The Ministry of Justice and Police operates a shelter for
survivors/victims of domestic violence, which provides care for up to 30 women
and their children.
Violence, marriage and family rights
227. The Law on Combating Domestic Violence was passed in 2009, defining
domestic violence as “any form of physical, sexual, psychological or financial
violence that is committed by a person against a partner, child, and elder, member of
the family or needy irrespective where the violence takes place”. The law imposes
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sentences of four to eight years’ imprisonment for violation of protection orders by
the defendant.
228. Since the revision of the Penal Code in July 2009, rape and or sexual abuse
within marriage are recognized as offences (Article 295, Penal Code). Sexual abuse
of minors (the age has been raised to 16 years), as a form of sexual intimidation has
been defined as a criminal offence. A National Action Plan on Domestic Violence
has been drafted in July 2014 by the National Steering Committee on Domestic
Violence (governmental) and the NGO National Platform on Domestic Violence.
The National Action Plan contains steps to realize the basic conditions for
implementation of the law, among which capacity development of counsellors and
establishment of support systems.
Rights of Children
National Action Plan for Children
229. The National Action Plan for Children 2009-2014 includes various issues as
derived from contributions from stakeholders, policy makers and youth during
consultations, workshops and questionnaires and summarized in the Concluding
Observations of the UN Child Rights Committee of the years 2000 and 2007. To
carry out this plan the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing is currently working
on establishing a monitoring mechanism.
230. The issues related to family rights include:
• Improved legal protection of children and the promotion of the optimal
experience of the principle of non-discrimination of all children;
• Reduction of all forms of violence against children especially at school, in the
family and in child care centres.
Age to enter in marriage
231. Though the minimum age to enter into marriage has been revised in the 2003
Marriage Act, the minimum ages of 17 for boys and 15 for girls are still
contradicting with the Convention on the Right of the Child and CEDAW.
232. According to the MICS 2010 report, about 12 per cent of all marriages in 2007
were of girls, aged 15-19. The report states that nationwide, approximately 12 per
cent of women aged 15-19 years were married or in union.
233. The proportion of these marriages was the highest in households where the
mother tongue is Javanese (19.2 per cent) and in the districts in the rural interior
households (20.0 per cent). A large number of these girls had a husband 10 years
older or more, i.e. 19.5 per cent currently married or in union in 2006. The
proportion of young girls aged 20-24 married or in union with a husband 10 years
older or more, was 22.6 per cent (2010 MICS).
234. In 2007, both the UN CEDAW Committee and the UN/CRC Committee) have
made recommendations to the government to raise the ages of consent to
internationally agreed minimum ages of 18 for both boys and girls. This
recommendation, which aims at harmonizing the Marriage Law with the Convention
on the Rights of the Child, has been incorporated in the Draft Revised Civil Code.
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Social protection services to families
235. As part of its social protection policy the Ministry of Social Affairs and
Housing is implementing a supply plan including material and immaterial social
services that are accessible for both men and women. The package of basic social
protection services include health cards to ensure free medical care, financial
assistance for needy households and people with a disability, child allowance, old
age allowance, and provision of school supplies. Family counselling and subs idies
to institutions that take care of elderly, children and people with a disability, are also
part of this subsidy plan.
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